Loom and method of weaving



Aug. 10, 1948. s. KAUFMAN 2,445,596

' Loom Aim METHOD OF wmvme Filed April 5, 1945 4 sheets-sleet 1 mlum .lililllii INVENTOIZ SAMUEL KAUFMAN F" 'Y 8% Y3 RI'TORNGYS 1948. -s. KAUFMAN 2,446,596

LOOK AND METHOD OF WEAVING Filed April 5, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR SAMUEL KAUFMAN ATTORNEYS Aug. 10, 1948. s. KAUFMAN 2,445,596

I LOOM AND METHOD OF WEAVING I Filed April 5, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet z INVENI'OR SAMUEL KAUFMAN Aug. 10, 1948 s. KAUFMAN 2, 6

LOOM AND METHOD OF WEAVING I Filed April 5, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IIIVEIEQR SAMUEL KAUFMAN ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 10, 1948 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,446,596 LOOM AND Mn'rnon F WEAVING.

Samuel Kaufman, Brooklyn. N. Y. Application April 5, 1945, Serial No. 586,708 13 Claims. (Cl. 139-18) This invention relates to looms and the method of weaving textile material, and more especially it relates to looms having novel and improved shed forming mechanism, and to improved procedure for the manufacture of woven material.

The chief objects of the invention are to provide in a novel manner for forming a shed of the warp threads to be woven; to provide simplification of apparatus; to obviate the use of heddles and heddle-operating mechanism commonly employed in weaving looms; to obviate the use of a batten and reed usually employed for beating in the filler or weft after it has been laid in the shed; to provide improved means for packing down the weft strand after it has been laid in the shed; to obviate the requirement of extraneous means for imparting tension to the warp filaments, and for imparting'tension to the woven web; to provide a loom requiring less floor space than conventional looms employed for similar types of weaving; to provide an improved method of weaving; and to produce a superior woven product. Other objects will be manifest as the description proceeds.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a loom embodying the invention, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the loom shown in Fig. l, as viewed from the right thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the weaving operation showing the shuttle laying a weft strand in the shed;

Fig. 4 is an elevation, on a larger scale, of one type of warp-handling arm employed in the apparatus, a part being broken away and in section; Fig. 5 is a similar view of another type of warphandling arm of the apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail elevational view of two warphandling arms at one extremity of their relative operative movements, and the work therein;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the relative positions of the warp-handling arms while at rest during the laying of the filler or weft strand; and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figs. 7 and 8 showing the warp-handling arms after they have passed each other and are beginning to tighten the'warp threads about the weft strand,

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a loom structure comprising an open base structure designated as a whole by the numeral Ill. The base structure conveniently may be made of tubular metal members adequately cross-braced at the ends and sides thereof as shown, and has adjustable leg members II, I I by means of which the height of the structure may be adjusted, for a reason subsequently to be explained. Upon its top, the base l0 carries a pair of horizontal, longitudinally extending,

shelf-like supporting members l2, l2 disposed at 2 opposite sides of said base, and a second pair of horizontal supporting members i3, i3 extending transversely of the base at opposite ends thereof, slightly below the plane of the supporting members l2.

Mounted upon the supporting members i2 at one end thereof (the left as viewed in Fig. '1), and spanning the space between said members is a frame member i5. A substantially similar frame member I6 is similarly mounted at the oppositeencl of the apparatus, said frame members being connected to each other and mutually braced by a smooth cylindrical tie-bar H at the tops thereof. The bar I T is horizontally disposed and lies in the central longitudinal plane of the apparatus. Journaled adjacent its ends in the respective frame members l5, l6, parallel to the tie-bar I l and substantially below the latter, is a rock-shaft i8, which rock-shaft has a flat chordal surface I9 extending longitudinally thereof throughout its entire length. The rockshaft 18 supports the warp-handling arms of the apparatus, which arms are of two different constructions, and are arranged in alternation upon the shaft.

The construction of the warp-handling arms is best shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 whereof Fig. 4 shows one type of arm, designated 20, and Figs. 5 and 6 show the other type of arm, designated 2!. The arm 20 is a relatively thin metal structure having a disc-like hub portion in which is located an axial aperture 22 that is shaped complemental to the cross-sectional shape of the rock-shaft [8, that is, the said aperture is formed with a chordal flat portion similar to the fiat portion IQ of the rock-shaft. The arrangement is such that oscillation of the rock-shaft will oscillate the arms 20 in unison. Extending longitudinally through each arm 20 is a duct or passage 23, which, in the hub portion of the arm is arcuate so as to avoid the aperture 22 therein. One end of the passage 23 is at the free end of the arm, the other end being located on the periphery of the arm-hub diametrically opposite the point where the arm is connected thereto. The passage 23 is designed to receive one of the warp strands to be woven, and its terminal orifices are flared, parallel to the plane of the arm, to avoid the exerting of shearing strain on the warp-strand during the weaving operation.

The arms 2| are substantially similar to the arms 20, each having a passage 25 extending 1ongitudinally therethrough, which passage curves about an axial aperture 26 formed in the hub portion of the arm. The aperture 26 is circular in shape so that the arm is journaled on the rock-shaft l8 on which it is mounted, and may be oscillated relatively of the shaft and relatively of the other warp-handling arms 20. Each arm 2| has a radial extension 21 on the diametrically opposite side of its hub portion, the passage 25 extending longitudinally through said extension and having its terminal orifice in the end thereof flared parallel to the plane of the arm. The outer end portion of the extension 21 has divergent lateral margins so as to constitute a head portion 28. and the head portions of all the arms 2| are received and securely engaged in a channel-shaped yoke or clip 29, the arrangement being such that the latter may be utilized toeffect oscillation of all the arms 21 in unison. The

apertured ears 32, and pivotally connected to said pairs of ears are respective angular links 33. The links 33 are parallel to each other, and extend toward the rear of the machine where their rear ends are pivotally connected to power-driven means that impart reciprocatory movement thereto. At the left end of the apparatus as viewed in Fig. 1, the rear end of the link 33 is pivotally connected to a rotary disc 34, eccentrically of the axis thereof. At the opposite end of the machine the link 33 is pivotally connected at 35 to the lateral face of a gear 36, eccentrically of the axis of said gear. The disc 34 and the gear 36 are keyed upon an intermittently rotating shaft 31, the latter being lournaled adjacent its respective ends in the frame members l5, IS. The links 33 are required to be angular since they extend across'and over the rock-shaft 18 in one phase of operation, as shown in Fig. 2. The arrangement is such that rotation of the shaft 31 will impart oscillatory movement of substantially 155 degrees to the warp-handling arms 2 I Since power is applied concurrently to both ends of the clip 29, the entire series of arms 2| is maintained accurately in alignment.

As previously stated, the warp-handling arms 20 are oscillated in unison by the rock-shaft l8 on which they are mounted, and such oscillation is concurrent with the oscillation of the arms 2!, but in the opposite direction, so that the arms 20, 2| pass each other twice during each complete revolution of the shaft 31. For oscillating the shaft l8, respective lever arms, such as the lever arm 40, Fig. 2, are secured to opposite ends thereof, the free ends of said lever arms being pivotally connected to respective links 41 at one end of the latter. At the left end of the apparatus, as viewed in Fig. 1, the opposite end of link 4| is pivotally connected to a rotary disc 42, eccentrically of the axis thereof. At the opposite end of the apparatus, the link 4i thereat has its opposite end pivotally connected at 43 to a lateral face of a gear 44, eccentrically of the axis thereof. The disc 42 and gear 44 are keyed to opposite ends of an intermittently rotating shaft 45 that is journaled adjacent its respective ends in the frame members 15, 15. The shaft 45 is parallel to the shaft 31 and rock-shaft l8, but is located toward the front of the machine whereas shaft 31 islocated at the rear thereof. The shaft 45 is somewhat longer than the shaft 31 and rock-shaft I8, so that the link 4| does not require to be angular as do the links 33.

4 Gear 44 is of the same size as gear 36, and the distance from the 'axis thereof to pivotal connection 43 is the same as the distance from theaxis of gear 86 to pivotal connection 35, the arrangement being such that rotation of shaft 45 imparts the same angle of oscillatory movement to the arms 20 as the rotating shaft 31 imparts to the arms 2l.- By employing two lever arms 40 on the shaft 18, power is applied to both ends thereof and torsional strain thereon is avoided.

For driving shaft 45, the gear 44 thereon is meshed with a gear 48 that is fixed on the outer end of a stub shaft 49 that is journaled in a bearing structure 50 formed on the frame member 16. Also fixed on the stub shaft 49, so as to rotate with gear 48 thereon, is a gear 51, and the latter is meshed with a gear 52, Fig. 2, that is Journaled on a stub shaft 53 that projects laterally from frame member 16, parallel to stub shaft 49 and in the same horizontal plane as the latter. Gear 52 also is meshed with gear 36 that is mounted on shaft 31, as hereinbefore described. Gears 35, 44, 48. 51 and 52 as-shown are all of the same size, the arrangement being such that when motion is imparted to the gear train, shafts 31 and 45 will be rotated at the' same angular speed.

Operation of the gear train is efiected by rotary motion imparted intermittently to the gear 52. To this end a pulley is journaled on the stub shaft 53 at one side of gear 52, said pulley being operatively connected to said gear by an interposed volute spring 56, one end of which is connected to the pulley and the other end of which is connected to the gear. Trained about the pulley '55 is a side-driving transmission belt 51 that has.driving connection with any suitable rotary prime mover (not shown), such as an electric motor. When the pulley 55 is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, the spring 56 tightens until it overcomesthe resistance of the gear train, and then drives the latter and parts connected therewith.

As previously has been stated, the shafts 31 and 43 are rotated intermittently, and this result is achieved by means periodically and yieldingly obstructing rotation of the gear 52. To this end a pair of studs 60, 60 are mounted upon the gear 52 and project laterally therefrom at diametrically opposite points. Mounted upon the frame member I 6, beyond the perimeter of gear 52, is a device that comprises a lever arm 6| that is pivoted at 62, one end of said arm projecting into the orbit of the studs 65. The other end of arm 61 is provided with a roller 53 that rests upon a yielding plate 64 that is backed by a compression spring 65. Said plate and spring are mounted in a cylindrical housing 66, the plate 64 being located at the top of the housing and retained therein by an overhanging flange on the housing. An adjusting screw 61 is threaded through the bottom of the housing and engages a springseat 68 disposed beneath the spring 65, the arrangement being such that the force of the spring acting against plate 64 may be adjusted by means of the screw 51. As the gear 52 is driven by the pulley 55 through the agency of the volute spring 56, the studs 60 periodically and in succession engage the end of lever arm 5 I Resistance to movement of said lever arm is sufllcient to stop rotation of the gear 52, and other gears connected thereto. Such stoppage of the gear 52 is of relatively brief duration, but during said stoppage the pulley 55 continues to rotate and stores up energy in the volute spring 56. The force of the compression spring 65 is so adjusted, that it is overcome by the stored up energy in the volute spring '56 before the pulley 55 has made half a revolution. When this occurs, the stud 60 engaging lever arm 6| is enabled to tilt the latter, against the force of spring 65, sufficiently to pass said lever anm, whereupon the spring 56 turns the gear 52 forwardly to the position it would have reached had its rotation not been interrupted. The rotation of the gears is stopped twice during each revolution of the pulley 55, whereby intermittent rotary movement is imparted to the shafts 31 and 43.

The warp-handling arms 20, 2| perform the functions ordinarily performed by the heddles of conventional looms, that is, they separate the alternate warp strands periodically to form a,

shed, and the weft strand is woven into the warp strands by a shuttle that passes back and forth through the shed. In the drawings the warp strands are shown at 10, 10. They pass through the passages 23, 25 of the warp handling arms 20, 2|, the strands entering said passages at the top thereof and being drawn from the passages at the bottom of the arms. The supply of warp strands may consist of the usual creels, cops, or warp beams (not shown) from which said strands are drawn. Said supply is located above and at opposite sides of the apparatus, the strands passing partly around the tie-bar I! in their passage from the supply to the arms 20, 2|. If desired, any suitable or conventional means (not shown) may be employed between the loom and the warp-supply for imparting tension to the warp strands. However, the passages 23, 25 of the warp-handling arms are arcu ate in the hub portions of said arms, and the friction produced by passage of the warp strands through said passage may impart adequate tension tothe strands, so that no other tension-producing means are required.

The weaving operation is effected below the warp-handling arms 20, 2|, where a weft strand 12 is deposited between the respective groups of warp strands as the arms 29, 2| are oscillated. For laying the weft strand, the conventional shuttle T3 is illustrated herein, but the invention contemplates that other weft-laying means, such as needles, may be employed if desired. The shuttle 13 passes through the shed of warp strands, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8, during those intervals when there is a dwell in the oscillatory movement of the-arms 2|], 2| as the result of the intermittent rotary movement of the shafts 31 and 45. At each end of the loom are the usual shuttle boxes N that receive the shuttle after each traverse of the warp shed, said shuttleboxes being mounted upon the supporting members l3 at each end of the loom. The usual picker sticks 15, I5 for impelling the shuttle through the warp-shed are located at opposite ends of the loom. Mechanism for actuating the picker sticks 15 at determinate intervals during operation of the loom is not illustrated herein since it constitutes no part of the present invention, it being understood that bin (not shown) of weft material 12 in the usualmanner. At the beginning of operation the warp strands 10 may be attached to a suitable weighted bar (not shown) below the arms 20, 2|, which bar will impart tension and a gravity pull on the warps. The prime mover is then placed in operation to effect oscillation of the arms 20, 2| in the manner hereinbefore described, and to actuate the picker sticks 15 at proper intervals. Oscillation of the arms 2!), 2| causes the respective banks of warp strands periodically to cross each other, the weft strand 12 being passed through the shed of warp strands each time the said arms pause in their oscillatory movement, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8. When the arms 20, 2| pass each other they are in vertical position, whereas at the extremities of their oscillatory movement they are substantially apart. Thus the free ends of said arms are at a substantially greater elevation at the extremities of their oscillatory movements than when crossing each other, aswlll be obvious from a comparison of Figs. 7 and 9. Since the woven material 11 is not anchored at its lower or leading end, the result of the oscillation of arms 20, 2| is to raise and lower the unsupported portion of the woven material, that is, the portion thereof that is not resting upon the bottom of the container 16. The weight ofthe suspended woven material keeps the warp strands taut and under tension, and such tension may be varied by varying the proximity of the container to the warphandling arms, the adjust-able leg members H of the loom-base being provided for this purpose.

When the arms 20, 2| are at the extremities of their oscillating movement, the woven material 11 is in lifted position, and the warp strands H! are pulled taut in opposite directions to positions where all are disposed almost at right angles to the woven material 11, as is clearly shown in.

Fig. '1. This is an important feature of the ininvention since the result thereof is to pack the weft strand i2 tightly in place, thus obviating the use of batten and reed conventionally employed for this purpose.

Although in the loom illustrated the woven material moves in a vertical direction, the invention is not limited to this arrangement, it being contemplated that the novel features of the invention may be used in looms wherein the woven material is horizontally disposed.

The loom may be employed for weaving fullwidth fabrics, or forweaving relatively narrow fabrics. The latter arrangement is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings to simplify illustration. For

weaving narrow fabrics only a portion of the arms 2|, 2| need be utilized, the remainder being unthreaded so as to idle during the weaving operation, or being removed entirely from the loom as shown.

The invention results in simplicity of construction of the loom, conservation of floor space, and the achievement of the other advantages set ou in the foregoing statement of objects.

Modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1

1. A weaving loom comprising warp-shed forming mechanism, and a shuttle adapted to pass through the shed to lay a weft strand therein, said shed-forming mechanism comprising a plurality of individual oscillatable members for the respective warp strands, means for oscillating adjacent members in opposite directions through determinate angles to form a shed, and means for effecting a dwell in the oscillating movement of said members, intermediate the extremities of such movement, when the shed is of a size that rabies the shuttle most readily to pass therethrough.

2. A weaving loom comprising warp-shed forming mechanism, and a shuttle adapted to pass through the shed formed thereby, said shedforming mechanism comprising a plurality of warp handling arms arranged on a common axis, means for oscillating alternate arms in unison, means for concurrently oscillating the arms intermediate thereto in unison to the same extent and in the opposite direction to the said alternate arms, and means common to the said alternate and intermediate arms for effecting a dwell in the oscillating movement thereof, intermediate the extremities of such movement, when the shed is of a size that enables the shuttle most readily to pass therethrough.

3. A weaving loom of the character described comprising a warp-shed forming mechanism, and a shuttle adapted topass through the shed formed thereby, said shed-forming mechanism comprising a pluraltiy of warp-handling arms for respective warp strands, a rock-shaft upon which said arms are mounted in side by side relation, alternate arms having driving engagement therewith, and the intermediate arms being journaled thereon, means for rocking the rockshaft to oscillate the arms having driving engagement therewith, and means for concurrently oscillating the other arms in the opposite direction.

'4. A combination as defined in claim 3 wherein the arms that are journaled on the rock-shaft are provided with respective extensions, including a member engaging all of said extensions and connected to the means that effects oscillation of this group of arms. 1

5. A weaving loom of the character described comprising a warp-shed formingmechanism, and a shuttle adapted to pass through the shed formed thereby, said shed-forming mechanism comprising a plurality of warp-handlingarms for respective Warp strands, a rock-shaft on which said arms are mounted in side by side relation, alternate ,arms being fixed to the rock-shaft to turn therewith and the intermediatearms being journaled thereon, a member connecting all the said intermediate arms so that they may operate in unison, a lever arm on the rock-shaft, a link connecting said lever arm to a rotary member constituting a crank, a link connecting the member that connects the intermediate arms to a rotary member constituting a crank, respective shafts on which said rotary members are mounted, and means for intermittentlyrotating said shafts in unison.

6. A combination as defined in claim 5 wherein the last mentioned means comprises a train of gears connecting the last mentioned shafts to each other, a constantly driven power operated pulley, means between said pulley and one of said gears for storing up energy, and means for intermittently preventing rotation of said gears.

7. A combination asdefined in claim 5 wherein the last mentioned means comprises a train of gears connecting the shafts to each other, a constantly driven rotating pulley, a volute spring between said pulley and one of said gears adapted to store up energy when the train of gears is idle, and yielding means periodically impeding rotation of said gears, said yielding means adapted to be overcome by the energy stored in said spring.

8. A weaving loom of the character described comprising a warp-shed forming mechanism and a shuttle adapted to pass through the shed formed thereby, said shed-forming mechanism comprising a plurality of warp-handling arms, means mounting said arms on a common horizontal axis, means oscillating said arms in unison to each side of a central vertical-plane with adjacent arms moving in opposite directions, means imparting a dwell during each oscillation of the arms intermediate their extremities of oscillation to enable the shuttle' to pass through the shed formed thereby, whereby is woven 'a web that is suspended from said arms, and means for controlling the weight of the suspended web.

9. A combination asdefined in claim 8 wherein the last mentioned means comprises a receptacle positioned below the warp-handling arms adapted to receive the woven web, and means for varying the distance between the said arms and the receptacle to vary the length of the suspended portion of the web.

10. The method of weaving which comprises feeding warp strands to a weaving point, separating groups of alternate warp strands-periodically to form a succession of sheds, passing a weft strand through each of the sheds as it is formed, crossing the warp strands over the weft strand to confine the latter, and then pulling said warp strands substantially in opposite directions transversely of the direction of feed to apply force to the weft strand to pack it into place, said force being uniform in its application to successive passes of the weft strand.

11. The method of weaving which comprises feeding warp strands to a weaving point periodically, separating groups of alternate warp strands to form a succession of sheds, passing a weft strand through the respective sheds, crossing the warp strands over the weft strand to confine the latter, pulling said warp strands in opposite directions and to equal extent after each pass of the weft strand, and so moving the woven material and weaving point relatively of the warp strands that the latter are disposed substantially at right angles to the woven material to force the Weft strand into place.

12. A method as defined in claim '11 wherein the moving of the woven material and weaving point relatively of the warp strands is yieldingly ,by the static weight of a determinate quantum of previously woven material.

SAMUEL KAUFMAN.

' REFERENCES orrEn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,204,896 Mooney Nov. 14, 1916 1,337,259 Parker Apr. 20, 1920 2,247,760 MacDonald July 1, 1944 2,356,964 Alderfer Aug. 29, 1944 2,434,344 Beckstrom Jan. 13, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,373 Great Britain Sept. 30, 1915 11,538 Great Britain 1913 18,196 Germany June 14, 1882 172.315 Great Britain Mar. 2, 1923 477,784 Germany June 13, 1929 

